Kul-Karet
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(Kul-Karet is the name given to the Oread boy when they found him. He preferred it to his given name and at this point can barely remember the original.)

Kul-Karet was found at a very young age lost in the mines of a dwarven colony near
the Stolen Lands. He and his family had been moving through and were attacked by duergar.
Kul-Karet got seperated and believed himself lost and shortly dead. However, he felt a sense
of direction rise up from within him. He slowly worked his way towards the surface. It was
on his second day of travel that he was found by the dwarves. They took the boy in and even
attempted to find the family. They were never found. However, his information and
descriptions of the Duergar were instrumental in preparing the dwarves for a coming attack.
They believed the duergar to have abandoned the region some time prior.

Kul-Karet ended up staying with the dwarves in their hillside village near the forest.
As an Oread, he soon took to the way of dwarves thanks to his Shaitan heritage. But more
than just the mountains, he took to nature. The dwarves began training the boy to be a
soldier and scout. He was very useful thanks to his excellent senses and survival skills.
One of the dwarves, Grunyar, noticed that the boy didn't seem to be interested in the world
of martial combat as much as he did the use of magic. He also seemed to share an excellent
bond with the local animals. Grunyar, a leader in the tribe, removed him from his
military training and instead put him with the local druid. This was an elf named Tessara.
She had come to be with them after she saved a patrol from a dire wolf. She used her
druidic powers to calm the creature. The wolf, Armath, never left her side afterwards.
Tessara chose to stay in the area and help the dwarves with their wild neighbors. Tessara
taught Kul-Karet to revere nature and its creatures for the power they could provide someone who
came to know them well.

Kul-Karet was very intrigued by this idea. It opened many options to the young Oread boy.
Becoming a druid could allow him to become an even better scout. He could also use his
new-found abilities to keep his dwarven friends safe. But one of the things that stuck out
to him the most was the way the wolves like Armath moved so freely. He noticed this
especially when Armath was in a fight. The wolf could move about as it pleased. Even
when it got in to a tight spot, Armath could find a way out. And it was usually a way that
most others wouldn't have seen.

It was then that Kul-Karet understood the great links someone could go to if they
truly wanted to protect those close to them. It was then he realized the path he should take
in his training. Tessara had often talked about choosing what she called a domain. It was
something like an area of specialization for druids. She described many of them to him.
One in particular stood out. Liberation. The chance to use his druid powers the best he
could to move without restriction and to allow his friends the chance to do the same.

And so he trained. His training went on for several years. During this time, he
began to hear about a growing kingdom nearby. Zeltenia was growing quickly not far from his
home. There was much discussion of Lady Terra and her party as they started to take control
of this area of the Stolen Lands. Kul-Karet made a decision. This seemed like a great
opportunity. He had been looking for some time for a motivation to push him to his next
station in life. The idea of helping with the rise of kingdom was a draw he couldn't resist.
He sat down with Tessara and Grunyar. They both new what he intended before he even spoke.
Grunyar was very supported of the idea. There had been discussion of the village sending
and small group of dwarves with the request to join Lady Terra and have the village come
under Zeltenia and its protection. Kul-Karet would lead this group. Tessara was less thrilled
with the idea. She wasn't sure of Zeltenia's intentions for the area they were soon to
control. She warned Kul-Karet that these humans were unlikely to have the same love for nature
and the creatures of the Stolen Lands as he did. Kul-Karet insisted she didn't worry. As long
as Lady Terra and her court respected the power of nature and the creatures within it could
provide, there were no problems.

Soon the dwarven convoy made their way to Jindark. Those that were willing to do the
paperwork and abide by the rules of Terra could stay. Of the 15 that came, 10 stayed. The
other five were not comfortable with the concept. Kul-Karet chose to stay. He saw the expansion
of Zeltenia as an opportunity to experience the nature of this part of the Stolen Lands
and possibly even areas abroad. He joined one of the local patrols and gained respect as a
guide.

Sadly, things weren't as wonderful as OREAD had hoped. Sure, he was getting to
explore great reaches of the area. But Tessara had of course been correct. While
Zeltenia didn't necessarily disrespect nature, they also held no great love for it.
Nature often got in the way of expansion. If it did, it was simply removed. So when
a new opportunity came about, Kul-Karet took the chance for a change. Lady Terra wanted
to send a group to explore an area of the Sodden Lands. This massive swampland held
the promise of great treasures and resources for Zeltenia. The request came down for
all who were interested to go through a lengthy application process and interview.
OREAD's time with the patrols and his ability as a guide went a long way towards his
acceptance.

Colonymaker

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